More Gay Couples Saying ‘I Do’ in NJ [AUDIO]

Since gay marriage became legal in New Jersey nearly six months ago, there has been an increase in the number of same-sex couples tying the knot throughout the Garden State.

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(Phil Walter, Getty Images)

During that time, a total of 2,955 same-sex couples have officially said their “I do’s” in New Jersey.

“Getting the right — the freedom to marry — it’s just fantastic,” said John Mikytuck, interim executive director of Garden State Equality. “It was a very long and hard battle, and being allowed to choose whether we partner in marriage was a right that was long in coming, and now that we have, it is to be celebrated.”

He stressed gay marriage is great for the entire Garden State, even the straight community.

“We should embrace love, commitment, family,” Mikytuck said. “I think that’s what this symbolizes. It’s a huge victory — the history of our country is that we continue to expand on people’s rights and freedoms and liberty and pursuit of happiness, and allowing everyone to partake in marriage is part of that, and a huge step forward.”

Mikytuck also said the state should see an economic improvement.

“Having the right to marry for same-sex couples is actually generating more business for the state, so from a financial perspective I think it’s a win,” he said. “Certainly in forming family bonds, that’s a win, and for children, having married parents is a win.”

Mikytuck said he expects to see even more same-sex couples joining in matrimony in the coming months.

“It’s a big time for marriage ceremonies in general,” he said. “I think you’re going to see an uptick in same-sex couples having ceremonies, certainly having elaborate ceremonies.”

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